Namibia Fires Agriculture Minister Amid Rape Allegations

Namibia's Minister of Agriculture, Mac-Albert Hengari, has been dismissed and arrested following allegations of rape, bribery, kidnapping, and other serious charges involving a minor. President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah acted swiftly, citing a commitment to accountability and clean governance, and removed Hengari after he failed to resign as requested. Police reports confirm that Hengari is under investigation for 11 charges, including rape, abduction, and attempting to bribe the victim to withdraw her complaint. The alleged victim has been placed under police protection amid heightened public scrutiny, while Hengari denies the allegations. This high-profile case has sent shockwaves through Namibia’s political landscape, underscoring the administration’s zero-tolerance policy for misconduct among public officials and drawing contrast with neighboring countries where similar allegations often go unpunished.